It is with regret that I advise of the recent sad passing of
Sylvia Pearl Cable.

Sylvia’s husband, Horace Cable,
served as a Councillor for the former Hurstville City Council from 1956 –
1971 and as Mayor in 1966. During this period of her husband’s
service, Sylvia became the first female Alderman and Horace and Sylvia became the
first husband and wife team to serve on Hurstville City Council.

Sylvia was known for her love of weak
cappuccinos and elegant hairstyles. Deeply committed to her family, she
would travel any distance to see her loved ones and even visited Stockholm,
Sweden at the age of 93 to see her grandson marry.

Amongst her many interests, Sylvia
was a devoted member of the Hurstville community. She was passionate,
devoted and fought hard for what she believed in.

A minute’s silence was
observed in memory of Vale Sylvia Pearl Cable.

Minute No. 74

Resolved

1. That
Council express thanks and appreciation to Sylvia Pearl Cable for her
contribution to the Hurstville community.

2. That
condolences be extended to her family and loved ones.

(Moved by Administrator, Mr J Rayner)

11. Open & Transparent
Decision Making

During the period that Georges River
Council is under Administration, it is my aim and that of the General Manager,
to ensure the Council operates in an open and transparent manner.

This is consistent with the
Council’s Charter under Section 10 of the Local Government Act which
requires a Council to:

• exercise
its functions in a manner that is consistent with and promotes social justice
principles of equity, access, participation and rights;

• to
facilitate the involvement of Councillors, members of the public, users of
facilities and services and Council staff in the development, improvement and
co-ordination of local government.

Open decision making assists in
gaining the confidence of the community in Council’s:

• property
dealings

• planning
and development decisions

• investment
and expenditure of public money

• policy
development

The Local Government Act clearly and
rightly specifies that a number of matters may be discussed and decisions made
in closed session. These include (in summary):

• personnel
matters

• personal
hardship of a resident or ratepayer

• commercial
advantage

• commercial
information

• maintenance
of law

• security
of the Council, Councillors or Staff

• advice
concerning litigation

The Act limits the closure of Council
meetings to circumstances where “it is necessary to preserve the relevant
confidentiality, privilege or security” and in other cases the Council
must be satisfied that discussion in any open meeting would be contrary to the
public interest.

Already a number of actions have
occurred to make Georges River Council’s decisions open and transparent:

• introduction
of the Independent Hearing & Assessment Panel

• ensuring
the report, “Advice on Court Proceedings”, is in open session

• DA
processing times

• VPA
Policy

• Road
Closure & Sale, Minute No. 61, Council Meeting 4th July 2016

A number of the reports that come
before the Council contain valuations, details of negotiations, prices
submitted by tender and the like.

In the future, the nature of the
transaction covered by the report will be reported in open session. This
will allow for the background and any relevant history of the matter to be
provided and will also enable a summary of relevant matters taken into
consideration during decision making to be tabled.

A supplementary report which will
contain restricted/confidential information will be retained in closed session
meeting the requirements of the Local Government Act. For example, this
evening’s Agenda contains reports in both the open and closed sections of
the meeting:

• CCL053-16
and CON012-16 Tender for the Construction of the Upper and Lower Gannons
Park Shared Pathway

Considering the community interest
associated with the matters addressed, I am proposing that these reports from
the former Hurstville City Council, be made public.

The General Manager has already
relayed to staff the approach to be taken with future reports and I am pleased
that she strongly supports and promotes the open and transparent process, which
I aim to have as a feature of the decision making in this organisation.

Although we are changing the approach
to Council’s decision making, the requirements of the Government Information
(Public Access) Act, 2009 still apply to some requests for information from the
public.

Minute No. 75

Resolved

1. That
the approach to open and transparent decision making be noted.

2. That
the report from the former Hurstville City Council dated 2 July, 2014
(COW055-14 Property Matter – River Road, Oatley) be considered as an open
report, other than Appendix 2 which, in accordance with Section 10A(2)(c) of
the Local Government Act, is to remain in closed session as it is considered
the matters and information would, if disclosed, confer a commercial advantage
on a person with whom the Council is conducting (or proposes) to conduct
business.

3. THAT
the report from the former Hurstville City Council dated 19 November, 2014
(COW098-14 Property Matter – River Road, Oatley) be considered as an open
report, other than Appendix 2 which, in accordance with Section 10A(2)(c) of
the Local Government Act, is to remain in closed session as it is considered
the matters and information would, if disclosed, confer a commercial advantage
on a person with whom the Council is conducting (or proposes) to conduct
business.

(Moved by Administrator, Mr J Rayner)

12. Schedule of Meeting
Dates and Venues

The Georges River Council meetings
are held at 6.00pm on the first Monday of each month and on the second Monday
of the month when the first Monday is a public holiday.

The details of the locations for the
meetings are provided on the Meeting Notice which is published with the Agenda,
three (3) working days prior to the meeting date.

The proposed venues for Council
meetings for the remainder of 2016 are:

Resolved that the proposed schedule
of venues for Council meetings for the remainder of 2016, as listed in the
report, be approved.

13. Implementation Advisory
Committee (IAC)

Progress is being made on determining
former Councillor representation on the Implementation Advisory Committee and
other Advisory Committees.

Council has adopted a Charter for the
Implementation Advisory Committee and has decided on other Advisory Committees.

Determining a fair rate of
remuneration for former Councillors is important. It must be fair to
former Councillors and acceptable in and justifiable to the community.

Currently the Charter provides:

“Remuneration of Members

Members of the GRIAC will be
remunerated at a rate which complies with rates established by the Local
Government Remuneration Tribunal. Out of pocket expenses of Committee
members will be reimbursed.”

At the meeting of Council on 4 July 2016,
in establishing Advisory Committees which included community representatives,
it was resolved:

“THAT the Administrator be
authorised to set attendance fees for former Councillors should they
participate in Advisory Committees and/or undertake roles on behalf of
Council”.

It is recognised that other merged
councils are paying their former Councillors an allowance consistent with the
fees set by the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal. The allowance for
each category of Council has a minimum and maximum range and applies to
Councillors who have responsibilities and accountabilities under the Local
Government Act.

Another suggestion is that a meeting
attendance fee be paid to former Councillors participating in both the
Implementation Advisory Committee and Advisory Committees which include
community representatives. This is consistent with payments to members of
Council’s Independent Hearing & Assessment Panel and previously when
Councillors represented on the Joint Regional Planning Panel.

To provide some flexibility in
setting fees for former Councillors on the Implementation Advisory Committee
and in establishing payments which are fair and reasonable and which can be
justified to the community, it is proposed to vary the current clause in the IAC
Charter.

Minute No. 77

Resolved

1. THAT
the report be received and noted.

2. THAT
the Charter for the Implementation Advisory Committee be amended to read:

“REMUNERATION OF MEMBERS

Members of the GRIAC will be remunerated
as determined by the Administrator, taking into consideration:

• the range of fees
established by the Local Government Remuneration Tribunal.

• equity
with attendance fees paid to former Councillors who may participate in other
Advisory Committees.

• community
perceptions of what would be considered a fair and equitable payment.

Resolved that the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 4
July 2016 be confirmed with the amendment to Minute No. 38 to read:

Mr P Mahoney spoke against
adoption of the Draft Georges River Council 2016-2017 Operational Plan with
respect to the former Oatley Bowling Club, claiming the Bowling Club site is
part of the Myles Dunphy Reserve and that any proposal to rezone and
reclassify be withdrawn.

b) That
the Director, Planning and Environment prepare a report to the next available
Council meeting on the status of compliance with the Romanous Court Orders
relating to 84D Roberts Avenue, Mortdale.

a) That
the amendment to the Hurstville Local Environmental Plan 2012 to rezone two
(2) lots within the Danebank School Campus (No. 80 Park Road and No. 83 The
Avenue, Hurstville) from R2 Low Density Residential to SP2 Infrastructure
(Educational Establishments) and remove the minimum lot size, maximum
building height and maximum floor space ratio controls consistent with SP2
Infrastructure zoned land be supported.

b) That
Parliamentary Counsel’s Office be requested to draft and finalise the
Local Environmental Plan under section 59 of the Environmental Planning
and Assessment Act 1979 and in accordance with Council’s delegation
for the finalisation of the Planning Proposal.

c) That
the Department of Planning and Environment and the Department of Education be
advised of this decision.

a) That
Council adopt the attached Georges River Council Policy on Planning
Agreements.

b) That
the Georges River Council Policy on Planning Agreements become
effective upon the date of notification in the local newspaper.

c) That
the current Hurstville City Council Policy on Planning Agreements (2006)
andKogarah City Council Policy on Planning Agreements (2009) be
repealed at the time the new policy becomes effective.

d) That
the General Manager be granted delegation to update and make amendments to
the Policy as required.

e) That
Council endorse the Acting Director Environment and Planning to make minor
modifications to any numerical, typographical, interpretation and formatting
errors, if required, in the finalisation of the draft Policy.

That the requests for unspent budget
amounts from the 2015/16 financial year, as detailed in Appendix 1 attached
to the report, be approved for carry over to the 2016/17 financial year to
enable the completion of those projects.

a) That
Council approve entering into a Deed of Licence with 3Bridges Community
Incorporated consistent with this report.

b) That
Council approve the public notifications of the intention to grant the
proposed deeds of licence to 3Bridges Community Incorporated.

c) That
a site specific plan of management be adopted for 23-25 St Georges Road,
Penshurst permitting the granting of leases licenses and other interests for
terms exceeding 5 years.

d) That
Council approve the public notification of the intention to create a site
specific plan of management over 23-25 St Georges Road, Penshurst.

e) That
the General Manager and Administrator be authorised to sign the proposed
Deeds of Licence and all other documentation related to the plan of
management and licences and under the common seal of Council if
required.

b) That
the separate report on this agenda relating to Tender for the Construction of
the Upper and Lower Gannons Park Shared Pathway be considered in closed
session, in accordance with the provisions of Part 1 of Chapter 4 of the
Local Government Act 1993, Section 10A (2) (c) as it is considered the
information, if disclosed, confers a commercial advantage on a person with
whom the Council is conducting (or proposes to conduct) business.

b) That the separate report
on this agenda relating to Hurstville Golf Course Operational Management
Services be considered in closed session, in accordance with the provisions
of Part 1 of Chapter 4 of the Local Government Act 1993, Section 10A (2) (c)
as it is considered the information, if disclosed, confers a commercial
advantage on a person with whom the Council is conducting (or proposes to
conduct) business.

b) That the separate report
on this agenda relating to Hurstville Aquatic Leisure Centre Operational
Management Services be considered in closed session, in accordance with the
provisions of Part 1 of Chapter 4 of the Local Government Act 1993, Section
10A (2) (c) as it is considered the information, if disclosed, confers a
commercial advantage on a person with whom the Council is conducting (or
proposes to conduct) business.

b) That
the separate report on this agenda relating to Ken Rosewall Tennis Centre
Operational Management Services be considered in closed session, in
accordance with the provisions of Part 1 of Chapter 4 of the Local Government
Act 1993, Section 10A (2) (c) as it is considered the information, if
disclosed, confers a commercial advantage on a person with whom the Council
is conducting (or proposes to conduct) business.

That in accordance with the
provisions of Part 1 of Chapter 4 of the Local Government Act 1993, the
following matters listed for consideration in closed Council at which the
press and public are excluded be resolved in accordance with the
recommendations within the reports.

That in accordance with the
provisions of Part 1 of Chapter 4 of the Local Government Act 1993, the
matters dealt with in this report be considered in closed Council Meeting at
which the press and public are excluded. In accordance with Section 10A(2)
(d(ii)) it is considered the matter commercial information of a confidential
nature that would, if disclosed confer a commercial advantage on a competitor
of the council.

That in accordance with
Section 10D it is considered that if the matter were discussed in an open
Council Meeting, it would on balance, be contrary to the public interest as
it commercial information of a confidential nature that would, if disclosed
confer a commercial advantage on a competitor of the council.

CON013-16 Hurstville
Golf Course Operational Management Services

(Report by
Manager Engineering Services, Michelle Whitehurst)

That in accordance with the
provisions of Part 1 of Chapter 4 of the Local Government Act 1993, the
matters dealt with in this report be considered in closed Council Meeting at
which the press and public are excluded. In accordance with Section 10A(2)
(d(ii)) it is considered the matter commercial information of a confidential
nature that would, if disclosed confer a commercial advantage on a competitor
of the council.

That in accordance with
Section 10D it is considered that if the matter were discussed in an open
Council Meeting, it would on balance, be contrary to the public interest as
it commercial information of a confidential nature that would, if disclosed confer
a commercial advantage on a competitor of the council.

That in accordance with the provisions
of Part 1 of Chapter 4 of the Local Government Act 1993, the matters dealt
with in this report be considered in closed Council Meeting at which the
press and public are excluded. In accordance with Section 10A(2) (d(ii)) it
is considered the matter commercial information of a confidential nature that
would, if disclosed confer a commercial advantage on a competitor of the
council.

That in accordance with
Section 10D it is considered that if the matter were discussed in an open
Council Meeting, it would on balance, be contrary to the public interest as
it commercial information of a confidential nature that would, if disclosed
confer a commercial advantage on a competitor of the council.

That in accordance with the
provisions of Part 1 of Chapter 4 of the Local Government Act 1993, the
matters dealt with in this report be considered in closed Council Meeting at
which the press and public are excluded. In accordance with Section 10A(2)
(d(ii)) it is considered the matter commercial information of a confidential
nature that would, if disclosed confer a commercial advantage on a competitor
of the council.

That in accordance with
Section 10D it is considered that if the matter were discussed in an open
Council Meeting, it would on balance, be contrary to the public interest as
it commercial information of a confidential nature that would, if disclosed
confer a commercial advantage on a competitor of the council.

That in accordance with the
provisions of Section 11(2) of the Act, the reports and correspondence
relating to these matters be withheld from the press and public.

a) That BlueFit be awarded
the Contract for Hurstville Golf Course Operational Management Services for a
period of three (3) years with an option to extend for a further two (2)
periods of three (3) years each, subject to Council resolution.

b) That the General Manager
be authorised to sign the Contract with the preferred Contractor on behalf of
Council.

a) That
BlueFit Pty Ltd be awarded the Contract for the Hurstville Aquatic Leisure
Centre Operational Management Services for a period of three (3) years with
an option to extend for a further two (2) periods of three (3) years each,
subject to Council resolution.

b) That
the General Manager be authorised to sign the Contract with the preferred
Contractor on behalf of Council.

a) That Evolution Sports Pty
Ltd be awarded the Contract for the Ken Rosewall Tennis Centre Operational
Management Services for a period of three (3) years with an option to extend
for a further two (2) periods of three (3) years each, subject to Council
resolution.

b) That the General Manager
be authorised to sign the Contract with the preferred Contractor on behalf of
Council.